| The Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group go | | | | models except for the limited edition |
| back to that old standby of auto retailing - giving | | | | Harley-Davidson SuperCrew. The new incentives |
| incentives. This is the automakers' way of getting | | | | rolled out by Ford will run through April 2. |
| away from the enduring nosedives and pulling | | | | In order to face the auto battle squarely, Chrysler |
| sales up. | | | | also started offering some new incentives of its |
| Ford earlier announced a new package of | | | | own. It will also be offering free upgrade to a |
| incentives to match a more aggressive advertising | | | | HEMI engine as part of its March "Truck Month" |
| campaign. Chrysler, on the other hand, is now | | | | promotion. In the said promotion, purchasers of a |
| offering a free upgrade to a HEMI engine. The | | | | Dodge Ram, Durango or Dakota for this month |
| deal is part of the automaker's March "Truck | | | | will get one of the well-liked powerplants at no |
| Month" promotion which also features cash | | | | extra charge. Aside from this, they will receive up |
| incentives. | | | | to $5,000 in consumer cash on the Ram and |
| As previously reported, the new ad campaign of | | | | $2,000 on the Durango. Purchasers of the Dodge |
| Ford, which is dubbed as the "Ford Challenge", | | | | Dakota will also receive $2,000 in cash. Chrysler is |
| builds on the success of its "Fusion Challenge" ads, | | | | also offering $1,000 in bonus cash on the Jeep |
| which have started airing in January. To add a | | | | Cherokee, Commander Limited and the Liberty. |
| dash of spice to the deal, Ford is offering | | | | "Chrysler is relying on deals like this to ease its |
| prospective Ford Fusion customers a unique | | | | inventory problems. They'll deny it until the end, |
| 39-month "Sign and Drive" Red Carpet lease on | | | | but they've been putting on the incentives pretty |
| the Fusion SE I-4 with payments of $249 a | | | | heavily," said analyst Rebecca Lindland of Global |
| month. The deal waives the first month's | | | | Insight. |
| payment and does not require money down. Ford | | | | General Motors Corp. did not announce any new |
| Fusion purchasers could also opt for a 2.9 percent | | | | promotions for this month however it has |
| financing for 60 months or $1,000 in customer | | | | increased sales incentives last month. Paul Ballew, |
| cash. For the Ford Expedition, the automaker's | | | | GM's chief sales analyst, declined to specify the |
| new incentives include 3.9 percent financing for 60 | | | | magnitude of the increase. Ballew said, "We're |
| months or $2,000 in customer cash. | | | | going to stay competitive in March and we'll see |
| Ford is also launching news ads to promote the | | | | how the industry plays out." |
| Ford F-series, its bread and butter vehicle. The | | | | Detroit-based automakers are improving their |
| Ford F-series ads feature Mike Rowe of the | | | | vehicle lineup by upgrading auto parts auto and |
| Discovery Channels popular "Dirty Jobs" which is a | | | | accessories like axle assembly, DC sports cold air |
| documentary series. To promote the pickup truck | | | | intake, wheels, brakes as well as other car |
| series, Toby Keith, a country music superstar, will | | | | system. Even if they have previously announced |
| join Rowe. | | | | to cut back on incentive spending, analysts say |
| To further boost the sales of Ford F-150 pickup, | | | | they are here to stay for the foreseeable future. |
| the most popular variant of the F-series, Ford is | | | | "The domestics can't eliminate them all together," |
| offering its customers $3,000 in cash or 0 | | | | Alex Rosten of said. |
| percent financing for 60 months on all 2007 | | | | |